The Details

The recently opened General Colin Powell Challenge Course in Jamaica’s Treasure Beach area provides visitors the opportunity to experience a unique new sports and leadership training activity.

Located on Jamaica’s less-visited South Coast, Treasure Beach is the focal point of the island’s sports tourism and a training ground for Jamaican athletes. The area includes a sports park and wild terrain enjoyed by bikers and hikers.

The new course is named in honor of former United States Secretary of State Colin Powell, whose parents are from Treasure Beach. It is the first of its kind in Jamaica and was designed to foster resilience and leadership skills in young people and adults. The course is open for individual and group activities with a focus on team building for groups.

The facility was constructed through a partnership with General Powell, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), BREDS/The Treasure Beach Foundation, Ohrstrom Foundation and the Jamaica Public Service Company, with support from the Engineering Regiment of the Jamaica Defence Force.

"It is our hope that individuals and groups will take advantage of this great opportunity developed by BREDS/The Treasure Beach Foundation to visit Treasure Beach and further experience the unique offerings of the island's South Coast,” said John Lynch, Jamaica’s director of tourism.

The course is designed to take participants through a series of physical and mental challenges under the supervision of trained staff. It uses a combination of methods demonstrated to instill confidence and foster a sense of camaraderie, trust and cooperation among participants.

According to Jason Henzell, chairman of BREDS/The Treasure Beach Foundation, the course has hosted three corporate teams and four youth groups since the first phase of construction was completed in November 2013.